Optimus Prime learns about the buds and the bees, while Megatron and Bludgeon duel to see who gets to destroy the Earth.

The American issue contains a main story, "The Power and the Glory", and a backup story, "Tales of Earth Part Two". In the British version, "Tales of Earth Part One" (which was the backup story in American #4) and "Tales of Earth Part Two" would comprise issue #4 and "The Power and the Glory" would be issue #5. The British comic was canceled after issue #5.

Contents

"The Power and the Glory"

Synopsis

We open back on Cybertron, where the Venerable Ones are hooking Optimus Prime up to a psychic amplifier, preparatory to dropping him into the heart of the planet, the better to commune with the Matrix. Prime believes this will clarify his visions. Though he has doubts, he nevertheless tells the Venerable Ones to flip the switch.

Within Cybertron, he receives visions of the birth of the first Transformers from the body of Primus... and then learns, for the first time, how these early Transformers reproduced. This budding process is a sort of bio-mechanical mitosis. However, it becomes clear to Prime that in the present day, budding is no longer a safe method of reproduction. Primus intends for current Transformers to reproduce using the Creation Matrix. The continued use of budding by the Cybertronian Empire is what makes them ruthless and emotionless; their link to Primus has been attenuated by too many generations.

Prime tears himself out of the psychic link, more determined than ever to stop the Empire. However, we see that if he had stayed linked a few seconds more, he would have seen that Imperial budding, in addition to producing cold, hard Transformers, is also releasing a strange dark energy. Dark, and purposeful...

Meanwhile, Jhiaxus is overseeing the cyber-forming of a (formerly) lush organic world, and wondering where the heck the Autobots got to. We also look in on Hot Rod and the other Autobots under Prime's command, who are engaging in training exercises at Autobase, and champing at the bit to kick some Imperial (or Decepticon) skidplate.

Quotes

"Cybertron. More than a homeworld, a living planet — the final form of Primus, first of our kind. We were his army, soldiers created from the very substance of his 'self' to continue the fight against evil... Our bodies... complex reconfigurable bio-chanic structures, changeling figures able to mimic vehicles, machinery, and weapons. Transformers! These are not legends, these are facts — facts I have never sought nor thought to question... until now!"

—Optimus Prime relates the origins of his species.

"Tales of Earth Part Two"

Synopsis

Back on Earth, Bludgeon laments about how he created all this carnage to draw out Optimus Prime (and his tasty Creation Matrix), but instead all he got were Megatron and Starscream. The opposing leaders exchange some trash talk, then begin the fight. Though Bludgeon makes good use of his Pretender nature and tank alt mode, he's truly no match for the new, upgraded Megatron, who decapitates him his shell, then blows his inner robot to bits. Watching from a safe distance, the Autobot Skydive scampers off to report to Prime that Megatron is back as undisputed leader of the Decepticons.